The Dow is up. Unemployment is down. Car sales are booming, consumer spending has risen, and even home values have started to stabilize. However, the recession isn’t quite over yet. Here is a tally of “the worst” so far in 2012.

Stocks closed down, although off the lows of the day, as tech stocks dragged down the market amid high oil prices and continued turmoil in the Middle East. Alcoa and Intel sank, while McDonald's gained.

Stocks eased losses in the final hour of trading, although remained lower, as tech stocks fell particularly hard amid high oil prices and continued turmoil in the Middle East. Alcoa and Intel fell, while 3M rose.

Stocks shed losses from earlier this week to close broadly higher Thursday, lifted by the successful return of General Motors to the U.S. stock market and relief that Ireland was addressing its debt crisis. Alcoa and Boeing rose, while Intel fell.

Stocks closed down Thursday soon after Walt Disney released worse-than-expected results into a market already weakened by disappointing results from Cisco and a rise in the dollar as European debt troubles continued to roil currency markets. Cisco and Disney fell, Chevron rose.

Stocks declined ahead of the close Thursday, as Walt Disney released worse-than-expected results into a market already weakened by disappointing results from Cisco and a rise in the dollar as European debt troubles continued to roil currency markets. Cisco and Disney fell.

Stocks held significant losses heading into the close after the dollar rebound prompted investors to take profits following the September rally, and at the start of a week heavy on jobs news and earnings. Amex and Alcoa fell, while JP Morgan rose.

Stocks held significant losses heading into the close after the dollar rebound prompted investors to take profits following the September rally, and at the start of a week heavy on jobs news and earnings. Amex and Alcoa fell, while JP Morgan rose.